Arvida To Boca West: Pay Or Lose Facilities

July 28, 1985|By Sally Deneen, Staff Writer

Arvida Corp. officials have given Boca West homeowners 60 days to pay at least $10,000 each to buy the development`s recreation facilities -- or never again use the tennis courts, golf courses, pools and restaurant.

About 4,000 people are affected by the printed announcement, which arrived in mailboxes Saturday, and gives Boca West residents a chance to buy club facilities.

``After Sept. 25, 1985, neither you nor any subsequent owner of your property will be eligible to purchase an equity membership or use the club facilities at Boca West,`` said a two-page letter signed by Robert E. Anderson, vice president and executive director of Arvida-owned Boca West. The development comprises single-family homes ranging from $150,000 to well over $1 million.

The deadlined plan, spelled out in a more than 70-page packet, may be the first to be offered at a Boca Raton-area development the size of Boca West, officials say. The offer was prompted by the July 20 transfer of facilities to homeowners, according to a news release scheduled to be handed out Monday.

The plan makes subscribing homeowners part of the Boca West Club Inc., a not- for-profit organization that will own the facilities. The plan requires residents at this exclusive, 1,450-acre community on Glades Road, to continue to pay annual fees to use the facilities, which will continue to be maintained by Arvida.

The plan was developed by the law firm of Gunster, Yoakley, Criser & Stewart, Anderson said. The Boca Raton firm has represented homeowners in other equity- ownership conversions, such as Boca Lago Country Club and Del Aire Country Club.

They based the price on the 34 tennis courts, four 18-hole championship golf courses, a 66,000-square-foot clubhouse and an acquatic center with three pools offered at Boca West.

``(The) membership equity fees . . . at $12,500, are well below those of other area clubs, many of which offer fewer facilities,`` said accountant Pannell Kerr Forster, in a letter dated July 9.

But residents contacted Saturday said they were shocked at the deadlined offer, presented while many homeowners are gone for the summer.

``For Arvida to tell somebody they have 60 days to do something -- it`s not a classy thing to do. What they`re doing is threatening you,`` said a homeowner who declined to be named. ``You`re dealing with the most prominent company in the area, except for maybe IBM.``

Paul Levine, president of Boca West Homeowner`s Association, said he will meet with the board of directors to evaluate the offer ``as soon as possible.``